Picking up of journos from newsroom creates climate of fear for media: TIB chief
'The incident is not just alarming for the concerned media outlet, but has created an intensely intimidating environment for the entire media landscape of Bangladesh,' says Iftekharuzzaman
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman has said the incident in which 21 media workers were picked up from an online news portal's office last night is a disturbing example of creating a climate of fear for the media.
"I express my strong protest and grave concern over this incident. Taking all employees of an institution late at night without any specific allegation is completely unacceptable," he said at a press conference titled "Referendum and pre-election situation: TIB's observations" held at the organisation's office today (8 February).
Iftekharuzzaman questioned, "Can army officers carry out such an action without approval from the highest authority? If they can, then where does the army's command and control stand?"
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His remarks came following reports that the army conducted an operation at the office of online news portal, Bangladesh Times. in Nikunja last night.
Speaking to The Business Standard on condition of anonymity yesterday, a Bangladesh Times MoJo reporter said a report involving the army chief had been published earlier in the day, after which the army conducted an operation and took away those present in the newsroom.
However, he could not confirm the exact number of journalists taken.
When contacted, Khilkhet Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Ashiqur Rahman said a joint forces operation had taken place in the Nikunja area yesterday evening, but he was not aware of any operation at a media office.
Lt Col Mahbub Alam of the army's Haji Camp (temporary camp) yesterday told The Business Standard that several "journalists from Bangladesh Times were brought to the camp for questioning."
"Some have already been released after interrogation, and questioning of a few others is ongoing. They will also be released," he told TBS, adding that details regarding the reasons and number involved would be disclosed later.
Later at 11:38pm yesterday, the online news portal in a Facebook post said that all of their employees were released.
Commenting further, Iftekharuzzaman said, "Whatever the justification, this is an extremely negative and coercive precedent for free journalism in Bangladesh. If there is any objection to a news report, there are proper legal and institutional mechanisms to address or protest it. But abducting employees in such an authoritarian manner, even if they were later released, still sends a very harsh message."
He added that the incident is not just alarming for the concerned media outlet, but has created an intensely intimidating environment for the entire media landscape of Bangladesh.
Iftekharuzzaman urged the army and all other agencies to refrain from such actions and emphasised the need to find ways to ease the growing pressure on free media in Bangladesh.
